Intravaginal obturating device



INTRAVAGINAL OBTURATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1955 u ite sfere e INTRAVAGINAL OBTURATINGI DEVICE Gerald W. Millar, Exshaw, Alberta, Canada 1 Application September 19, 19 55 Serial No. 535,226 I 4 cm (or. 123 131 My invention relates to new and useful improvements in intravaginal obturating devices, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is adapted to close ofi the cervical passage and which is adapted to dissolve within a certain time after insertion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which can be manufactured with different wall thicknesses, thereby controlling the time which it takes for the device to be dissolved by internal body fluids.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the obturating portion is maintained in shape by an hygienic ointment, non medicated unguent, or fluid contained therein, said fluid or ointment being harmless to body tissues.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the uterus and the vaginal passage showing the device in situ.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the device.

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly sectioned of yet another alternative embodiment of the device.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a still further alternative embodiment of the device.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Devices of this nature are normally manufactured either from relatively hard rubber or metal and suffer from certain disadvantages. Among these disadvantages is the fact that they normally require two trips to a physician during each period, once for insertion of the button or obturator and once to remove same just prior to the menstrual flow.

A further disadvantage is that conventional devices tend to act as an irritant and that the materials used are foreign to the body organs.

The principal advantages of the present device include the fact that it is designed to be manufactured from a material such as tendon, catgut or other substance normally dissolvable and absorbable by body tissues and fluids. From this advantage it will be noted that there is less danger of irritation and furthermore that by con- 2,893,385 Patented July v7, 1959 I it will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that it consists primarily in the preferred embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, of an obturating portion or form consistingof a hollow spherical ball 1 formed of catgut, tendon, or other substance dissolvable by internal body fluids. The ball or form 1 is hollow and is adapted to be filled by an ointment or other hygienic fluid 2 in order to maintain the firmness and shape of the device when in use. Figures 2 and 3 include a semi-rigid stem 3, also formed of a dissolvable material, said stem having a base 4 formed upon the opposite end thereof, said base being circular when viewed in plan. It will also be observed that there is an upturned flange 5 around the perimeter of the base 4, the purpose of which is apparent.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the device including the portion 1 which is similar to the portion 1 of Figures 2 and 3. In this instance a relatively flexible stem 6 extends from the portion 1, said stem being manufactured from a material readily dissolvable by internal body fluids.

In Figure 5 it will be noted that there is a plurality of ribs 7 formed upon the outer surface of the wall 8 of the device, these ribs facilitating and increasing the dissolvable surface of the device. Finally the embodiment in Figure 6 consists of a pair of spheres 9 and 10 coupled together by a reduced neck portion 11, it being understood that the interiors of the spheres and the neck communicate together, the Whole being filled with a similar ointment or hygienic fluid as shown in Figure 5.

In operation, it is intended that the device such as that shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 will be fitted by a physician at the entrance of the cervix 12 which is first distended so that the obturating portion may be entered therein. The obturating portion is held in position by the shrinkage of the cervical wall after distention and it will be noted that the base 6 fits over the entrance to the cervical passage when the device is in position.

Depending upon the thickness of the wall 8 of the obturating portion, the device will dissolve at certain cyclical periods and it is a matter of experiment on individuals in order to ascertain the correct thickness so that the device has dissolved prior to menstruation.

After the proper thickness of the wall 8 has been determined, devices such as those shown in Figures 5 and 6 could be used and it will be noted that Figure 6 is particularly suitable for use inasmuch as the reduced neck portion 11 enables either of the portions 9 and 10 to be held firmly in position.

It will therefore be seen that by the present device, an obturating device is provided having less irritation and reducing the number of trips to a physician required by the use of conventional devices of this nature.

Finally, it should be noted that the stems 3 and 6, although made of similar dissolvable material as the walls 8, should be thicker than the walls. This is so that the stem remains until after the walls 8 have dissolved so that, if desired, the device can be removed at any time.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

,1. An article of the class described comprising-a closed hollow resilient form adapted to be gripped and held by the walls of the cervix, means associated with said form to maintain the shape thereof, the walls of said form being of a1rnaterial dissolvable by. internal body fluids, :said rrie'zins'xonljirising hygienic ointment or fluid contained withinsaid form, and a stern extending irornsaidform also made of a material dissolvable -by internal body fluids andaabaseon the-other end ofsaid stemadapted to facilitate thepositioning and retention of said form within lhei'cer'viX.

The device according to claim 1 in which .said base is circiilaryyhen viewed in :plan, and an upturne d'flange aroundj'the perimeter of said base.

3. The device according'to claim 2 in which said form is spherical in configuration, and ribs formed on the'ex- References Cited in-the 'file of this patent UNITED PATENTS 208,883 Berlin Oct. 15, 1878 573,976 Hinchman Dec. 29, 1896 FOREIGN PATENTS 133,240 Germany Aug. 6, 1902 469,022 Germany Nov. 30, 1928 

